This course attempts to provide the student with a general understanding of the European area and its realities in terms of nationalism, ethnicities, and ethnic integration.  Priority is given to conceptualization of different phenomena and their historical development.  Critical thinking and comparative analysis will be applied to achieve a clear understanding of the changing composition of Europe.  

This course covers nationalism and ethnicity in contemporary Europe, and placed within a historical perspective.  An overview of European peoples is followed by the study of nationalism, ethnicity and ethnonationalism.  Transnational minorities and polyethnic states will be examined.  Integration of ethnicities will be treated in both Western and Eastern Europe.   Specific case studies will be analyzed.  The class format includes lectures, discussion, team work, presentations, and audiovisual materials.  The students will be asked to produce a research project, making extensive personal use of information and communication technology.  Guest speakers and field trips are planned.

Students will learn how to critically analyze processes and concepts related to ethnopolitics, ethnicity, and nationalism.  They will be able to relate politics, events, and players within the European political arena.  Students will learn to contextualize and explain the process of identity politics and relate it to current international events.  Students will be capable of critical analysis applied to the changing realities of identity politics in European context.  Students will develop an ability to conduct basic research, and organize and present their findings in a logical and independent way.

Letter grades correspond to the numerical scale: 

A to A-  = 100% to 90%.   B+ to B-  =  89% to 80%.   C+ to C-  =  79% to 70%.   D+ to D-  =  69% to 60%.   F = <60%.

Week One

 Unit    1                 Introduction.  Methodology.  Definitions.

(Ma y 21)                              (Murphy, p.1-24 ;assigned readings)

Unit    2                 Europe Defined.  Europe as Continent.  Europe as a Human Entity. 

(May 22)                              (Wicker, p.1-42; assigned readings)

Unit   3                  Nation and Nationalism .  Advance and Retreat. 

(May 23)                                     (Murphy, p.71-94; assigned readings)

Unit   4                  Demography.  Density and Distribution.  Cultural Factors.  Migration.

(May 24)                             (Wicker, p.43-56; assigned readings)

Week Two

Unit    5                 The Pattern of Languages.  Language Families and Subfamilies.  Multilingualism.

(May 28)                                     (Murphy, p.95-124; Wicker, p.57-72; assigned readings)

Unit    6                 The Geography of Religion.  Diffusion of Christianity.  Dechristianization. Non-Christian Minorities.  

(May 29 )                                    (Murphy, p.125-160; assigned readings)

Unit    7                 The European State System.  European State Pattern.   

(May 30)                                     (Wicker, p.73-90; assigned readings)

Unit    8                 The Twentieth-Century European State. European Integration.

(May 31)                                     (Murphy, p.161-200; Wicker, p.91-110; assigned readings)

Week Three

Unit    9                 Rural Sector. Manufacturing and Industry.   Core and Periphery.   

(June 4)                                      (Murphy, p.201-262; Wicker, p.111-126; assigned readings)

Unit    10               The European City.  The Modern Urban Pattern.  Regional Variations.

(June 5)                                       (Murphy, p.263-340; Wicker, p.127-142; assigned readings)

Unit   11           * MIDTERM EXAM

(June 6)

Unit   12                Discussion.  Audiovisual materials.  Presentations.

(June 7)                               (assigned readings)

Week Four

Unit    13               Europe’ Changing Social and Ethnic Geography.  The Challenge from Globalization.   

(June 11)                                   (Murphy, p.341-374; Wicker, p.143-162; assigned readings)

Unit   14                The Challenge from Globalization.

(June 12)                                     (Wicker, p.163-174; assigned readings)

Unit   15                 European Integration.  The Case of Northern Italy.

(June 13)                                      (Murphy, p.375-400; assigned readings)

Unit   16                  Impetus for Integration and for Fragmentation.  Ethno-regionalism.

( June 14)                                      (assigned readings)

Week Five

Unit  17                 A case study:  Polyethnic Poland.  The Poles and National Minorities.  The Imperative of National Integration.

(June 18)                              (assigned readings)

Unit  18                 Regionalism.  Separation versus Union.  Transnational Minorities.  Nations without States. 

(June 19)                                     (Wicker, p.175-192; assigned readings)

* FINAL PAPER  * PORTFOLIO 

Unit  19                  Nations without States.  The Roma in Europe.  The New Nationalism.

(June 20)                                      (Wicker, p.193-210;(assigned readings)

Unit  20                 Nationalism and Ethnonationalism.  Racism and Xenophobia.  Ethnic cleansing.  Ethnopolitics.

(June 21)                                     (Wicker, p.211-318; assigned readings)

* FINAL EXAM